Saturday, September 1, 2007

Why people keep scratching Ear?

  1. Why People keep scratching ears or use ear buds frequently?


Most of the my outdoor patients complain of itching in the ear. On examination, I find often no abnormality in ear except for broken hairs, bald canal skin or scratch marks. The problem is really not in the ear but in the mind. the Indian mindset is set from childhood that ear is a dust bean full of dirt and it should be cleaned regularly. but the truth is else. There are two Myths


  1. That the ear contains dirty substance or Wax
  2. So Ear should be cleaned regularly.
I tell you the Wax is natural gift of the God to man. its a substance secreted by modified sweat glands and it contains lysozymes which inhibit the growth of bacteria. it's being a sticky substance catches all dust, foreign particles etc and does not let go towards the eardrum. it also acts as a physical barrier.
But then still wax become the center of all ear problems why?
Most of physician, paediatrician or Non ENT medical Personnel have just three things to blame for all ENT Problems these are WAX, TONSIL and SINUS.
Sometimes wax becomes dry or hard then it may cause discomfort but if you put some wax softening drops, then most of the people even will not have this discomfort. and rarely Wax is the cause of ear problems unless water enters into ears when it swells up or catches fungal infection.
Ear has a natural mechanism of cleaning the wax in form of migratory epithelium and hair which push the wax out.
Problem comes when people starts using earbuds thinking by promotional advts that these are the right instruments for cleaning ear. but they are not Why?
  1. Can you take out ice-cream from ice-cream pot with an instrument like ear bud. NO, in fact you require scoop. but even with scoop would you like to take out ice-cream with your eyes closed. Never, but most of people do this to ear while cleaning the ear. their this very act injures the skin and delicate hairs resulting in bruises, infection, eczema skin, stenosed ear canal and much more
  2. It's a PSYCHOLOGICAL problem. a kind of obsessive compulsive disorder. Ear is a special sense organ. any sub-threshold stimulus here is perceived as pleasant to brain and brain signals hand to scratch ear again. this is vicious cycle and in this process Ear gets the injury.
  3. Ear share it's nerve supply with Tonsil, Teeth, Throat, Larynx and Stomach. A simple acidity can cause low grade itching in ear. So Why should you scratch the ear when gulping few antacids can solve your problem.
The best way to solve your problem is first to consult a ENT specialist to rule out other causes of itching and then if this is the cause (indeed this is the cause in most of the cases), forget the ear.
I quote like this
IF YOU FORGET THE EAR, THE EAR PROBLEMS WILL FOGET YOU :-)
Dr. Ajay Jain, MS (PGI, Chandigarh), DNB
Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery


Phone: 9871467637
Hospital: Pushpanjali Crosslay Hospital, Sec 1 Vaishali
Yashoda Superspeciality hospital, Kaushambhi
Max Balaji Hospital, IP Extension.

19 comments:

  1. the medical knowlege based blogs are rare and highly appriciated.
    As a lay man when a person read this all and come to know about some facts related to any problem it plays a vital role in Pschyclology of a patient for persuing treatment and believing fully in his doctor....

    It is nice blog and I wish you all the very bests for your practice and benefitting people through this noble profession of doctors

    Met your blog while surfing ...and found it quite nice blog.

    best wishes
    regards
    Mrs.Renu.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Respected Sir,


    I had consulted Dr S.K. Kachar in 2003 for my hearing loss which I felt.He had done some tests, according to which I have a 70% hearing loss in my right ear.



    I wanted to know that is there any possibility now to have a treatment for my hearing loss.The doctor had told me that in near future you can have a better hearing my some surgery or other treatment.



    Awaiting for your early response.



    Thanking you



    Regards,



    Mayuri
    email:majestic.mayuri@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I M A SINGER HAVING PROBLEMS IN MY THROAT FOR LAST 12 YEARS.I HV LEFT MY SINGING PROFFESION BECAUSE OF THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS-CONTINUE MUCUS FROM BACK SIDE OF NOSE,UNEXPLAINED PAIN IN THROAT AFTER SPEAKING/SINGING,DIFFICULTY IN HIGH PITCH SINGING,SWELLOW PROBLEM.doctor says nothing.pl.tell me wat is ths? may it cure? THANKS MAHESH

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dear sir, some times i faced problem that i m not able to relieve CO2 by noseso require more force and my hair also going to white and time i m also not able to speak clearly , can i have any solution for that.
    Santosh Bhardwaj

    ReplyDelete
  5. florentinoc_keiser887April 7, 2010 at 10:39 AM

    每次心情跌到谷底,就對自己說:休息一下再重新開始吧 ....................................................

    ReplyDelete
  6. curtiss_bremer062678April 16, 2010 at 6:07 PM

    金銀愈加磨鍊,愈加光亮,人生愈加考驗,生命愈加光輝。......................................................

    ReplyDelete
  7. 這麼好的部落格,以後看不到怎麼辦啊!!!........................................

    ReplyDelete
  8. nealwireman0912964April 30, 2010 at 4:29 PM

    人生的價值以及他的快樂,都在於他有能力看重自己的生存..............................

    ReplyDelete

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